Battery-charging clip



March 24, 1925. 1,530,582 7 G. J. TREMAYNE BATTERY cameras CHIP Filed May28, 1921 \NVENTOR g v ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 24, 1925.v

PATENT oF lca.

GEORGE 'J. TREIVIAYNE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BATTERY-CHARGING CLIP.

Application filed May 28,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. TREMAYNE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, United States of America, have invented a certain new and useful Battery- Charging Clip, of which the following is such a full, clear and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to a spring clip by means of which electrical connection can be readily made with the terminals of the battery for charging or testing purposes. The object of the invention is to produce a clip for this purpose which is inexpensive and effective and one which is provided with means for preventing breakage at the bends as the result of repeated actuation of the clamping arms in application to and removal from the battery terminals.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a clip embodying my in vcntion; Figure 2 an edge view; Figure 3 an end view showing the clamping jaws; and Figure 4 a view showing the jaws in operative position on a battery terminal of one common shape.

My improved clip comprises a wire bent as shown to form clamping arms 1 terminating in flattened serrated jaws 3 and joined by a U-shaped bend 2 which lies between the clamping arms 1. In the form shown, the clamping arms are bent to cross each other whereby the jaws are separated for engagement with av terminal 7 by pressing the arms toward each other. The wire forming the clip is of resilient material and when the arms are pressed Ftoward each other the arms themselves not only bend but there is also a considerable tendency to increase the sharpness of the permanent bends at the rear of the clip and this frequently resultsunder continued operation in such crystallization of the material at these'permanent bends as to cause the material to finally break at this point. In order to overcome this condition and increase the life of the clip, I provide the bends which join 1921. Serial No. 473,366.

the arms to the U-shaped bend and preferably also the bend in the U with means adapted to restrain the motion of the material of the clip at these points when clamping arms are actuated.

In the form shown these means comprise washers 4 on either sides of the material clamped together by bolts and nuts 5. The surfaces of these washers which engage the material of the clip may be made corru gated if desired. In operation they retard or restrain additional bending of the material at the terminal bends depending upon how firmly they engage the clip.

It has heretofore been the practice to connect the clamping arms of the clip by a loop of one or more turns for the purpose of increasing the distances by which the clamping jaws may be easily separated without unduly lengthening the clip. The U-shaped bond which I have substituted for this construction has the advantage of being much more easily formed than said loops and performing the desired function in a satisfactory manner.

One of the clamping bolts 5 can be utilized as a terminal for the application of the cur rent conducting wire 6, making unnecessary the addition to the clip of a separate terminal.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A clip comprising a member ofresilient material bent to form resilient clamping arms, and separate means applied to retard or restrain the motion of the portions of the member at the bend between the arms when said arms are actuated toward each other.

2. A battery charging clip comprising a one piece resilient member bent to form connecting clamping arms joined by a U- shaped bend lying between said arms and means reinforcing the resilient member at the bends joining the arms to the U-bend.

3. A battery charging clip comprising a one piece resilient member bent to form cooperating clamping arms joined by a U- shaped bend lying between said arms, the. ends of said arms being bent transversely to the plane of the clip to provide clamping jaws for engagement with a battery terminal, and means for reinforcing the resiliarms when said arms are actuated toward ent member at the U-bend andat the bends each other, said means also constituting a 10 joining the arms With the U bend. terminal for attachment of a current con- 4. A battery charging clip comprising a ducting wire. member of resilient material bent to form In testimony whereof I have hereunto set resilient clamping arms, and means applied my hand and affixed my seal. to retard 0r restrain the motion of the portions of the member at a bend connecting the GEORGE J. TREMAYNE. [L. s] 

